Jeris Riddick is the owner of Petal Pushers OBX a family business specializing in flower farming .
We are a family-run cut flower farm in Jarvisburg, consisting of my husband, Matt, myself, and his parents, Pam and Frank. We try to grow as sustainably as possible and create an environment that beneficial creatures want to frequent.
We mainly gear toward selling directly to customers through markets and subscription services (starting this year!), but we also make our flowers available at several local retailers and sometimes provide to designers in the area.
Having a business was always a down the road goal for Matt and I, but his mom got us interested in flower farming in particular. It was something she had looked into and liked the idea of using her land for.
I started learning more about it and shortly after that Matt and I bought the adjoining property, set up a space in our house to start growing, and began preparations in the field. It was a couple of years from the time the idea came up to when we actually got things going.
I love that there is always something to look forward to: which varieties we want to try next year, what seeds we’re going to start next week, expectantly watching for flowers to bloom. The whole process holds my interest and we are constantly learning. To add to that, flowers are helpful to the environment; it’s a positive for both the grower and the buyer.
Currituck is kind of the perfect location for what we do, because it’s an agriculturally-oriented community with good soil, and there is a need for what we offer in the area.
I moved to the Outer Banks 11 years ago from Virginia. My husband grew up in Nags Head, and his family has lived in Currituck since 2004.
We love seeing how people react to our flowers and how excited they are about what we’re doing. It’s also really cool seeing the whole process from start to finish and having an end result that makes people happy.
We all like to know where the things we buy are coming from, no matter what it is. Flowers are no exception, and when you know where and how they are grown, it adds another element of enjoyment to what is already a feel-good thing, whether for yourself or someone else. Locally grown flowers are also known to last longer in general so that’s a plus too!
Make sure you will be doing something you enjoy. There is a lot of opportunity for growth in our area, which is a huge advantage you can use to do something you love.
